Turloughmore are thrown out

Turloughmore’s Daithi Burke in action against St Thomas' Conor Cooney in an earlier round of the championship. His club's intererst in the title race was ended by the DRA on Monday night.

THE senior hurling championship will resume this weekend with the four preliminary quarter-finals down for decision after the DRA dismissed Turloughmore’s appeal on a technicality at a hearing in Tullamore last Monday evening, meaning Portumna are reinstated in to the championship at Turloughmore’s expense and will go on to play Castlegar this weekend.

Turloughmore have been deducted the two points garnered courtesy of their 2-17 to 0-18 victory over Portumna on June 3 and despite not being awarded the match points, Portumna finish one point ahead of Turloughmore in the final group standings and progress through as the final qualifier from group 2 of the senior A championship.

In a statement released by Turloughmore GAA, the club said that they were “deeply disappointed” to have been denied the opportunity to present their case to the DRA.

The statement continued: “We were denied the opportunity to defend our outstanding young hurler and our senior hurling team who have been caught up in this saga since last June.

“Two separate CCC’s set up in Galway, heard our evidence and ruled in our favour. Hence our disappointment in not getting the opportunity to present our case to the higher authority namely the DRA. We are satisfied that Turloughmore GAA acted in good faith at all times and are deeply saddened by this outcome.”

With the long running saga now finally at an end, focus can now switch back to matters on the field of play, with four mouthwatering preliminary quarter-final clashes set to take place in Athenry this weekend. In the tie of the round, reinstated Portumna take on a Castlegar side yet to taste defeat in this year’s championship. Preceding that will be the clash between the defending county champions St Thomas’ and Liam Donoghue’s Killimordaly.

Then on Sunday, Tommy Larkins face off with Clarinbridge, followed by the clash of Cappataggle and Kilnadeema-Leitrim. Toss a coin to pick the winner of those two.